2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: IOL

MaroonBells wrote:

Hey watch it, bitch! I went to Montana State. Go Cats!

And? lol.

Who Would You Do?! Which offensive line option are you picking for the Vikings next season? #SKOL #GoldenGirls pic.twitter.com/8cOabjNcSo

— Onebar (@Matt_Falk) February 24, 2025

Rose.

The other two options aren’t feasible.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/matt_falk/status/1894057344884933019?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Rose.

The other two options aren’t feasible.

I don't think we can expect Jurgens to be ready to start. Vikings might be high on him, but he was a 7th rounder for a reason. Zabel isn't really an option because he'll likely go between 20 and 40, and with bigger needs at CB, DT and RB the Vikings would be fools for taking a guard there.  

Doubtful the Vikings will be able to replace all three of the IOLs. I think at best, we keep one, sign one top free agent and one cheaper, aging bridge player like Scherff or Zeitler and back him up with a mid-round draft pick.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/matt_falk/status/1894057344884933019?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Rose.

The other two options aren’t feasible.

Definitely Rose, but I'm also giving Jurgens every opportunity to start at center next year and I'm also looking to sign a low risk, high upside young player like Jedric Wills (I've seen a 3 million a year projected contract) who also can play left tackle until Darrisaw is healthy and ready. Ideally;

LT- Darrisaw
LG- Wills
C- Jurgens
RG- Trey Smith
RT- ONeill

Brandel, Bradbury, Rouse is your initial depth.

supafreak84 wrote:

Definitely Rose, but I'm also giving Jurgens every opportunity to start at center next year and I'm also looking to sign a low risk, high upside young player like Jedric Wills (I've seen a 3 million a year projected contract) who also can play left tackle until Darrisaw is healthy and ready. Ideally;

LT- Darrisaw
LG- Wills
C- Jurgens
RG- Trey Smith
RT- ONeill

Brandel, Bradbury, Rouse is your initial depth.

Interesting about Wills. Not sure if he's an upgrade for us, but that is the kind of player we should be looking for. 

But speaking of Browns, there's talk they may trade or release Joel Bitonio, who would be the best left guard this team has had since Hutch. Also don't think Bradbury would come back as depth. If he loses his starting job I think they'd just trade or release him for the same reason Ingram won't be back: too much money on the bench.

MaroonBells wrote:

Interesting about Wills. Not sure if he's an upgrade for us, but that is the kind of player we should be looking for. 

But speaking of Browns, there's talk they may trade or release Joel Bitonio, who would be the best left guard this team has had since Hutch. Also don't think Bradbury would come back as depth. If he loses his starting job I think they'd just trade or release him for the same reason Ingram won't be back: too much money on the bench.

I always thought going into the draft that year, Wills was going to be a right tackle or someone who kicked inside to guard. His body type is that of a guard (6'4"/315). The big knock is he's been limited to just 12 games the last two seasons due to injuries, but he is a former top 10 pick and still just 25 years old.  He is not going to break the bank to sign and if he stays healthy you could get a big return like the Eagles did with Mechi Beckton. The fact that he has experience and gives you an option as a temporary left tackle would be huge for the Vikings.

Chiefs just slapped a franchise tag on G Trey Smith.

Over-the-cap projects OL franchise tag to be just over $25m. Chiefs only have about $8m in cap space before tagging Smith.

NorseFeathers wrote:
Chiefs just slapped a franchise tag on G Trey Smith.

Over-the-cap projects OL franchise tag to be just over $25m. Chiefs only have about $8m in cap space before tagging Smith.

Well Damn. That certainly muddies the waters. Not sure how the Chiefs can keep paying guys

The #Vikings have held a formal interview with Cincinnati IOL Luke Kandra, per @JustinM_NFL. pic.twitter.com/46fGEA9282

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) February 28, 2025

Monheim is the other Day 3 iOL I mocked the most. No one else close. I guess Kwesi is reading my emails.

Alabama, G, Tyler Booker

HT: 6045
WT: 321
Hand: 11
Arm: 34 1/2
Wing: 83 1/2

A massive human. pic.twitter.com/ac7cS2Wk7R

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 2, 2025

Absolute unit. Average pff grades but it’s vs SEC competition. HS teammates with JJM.

NFL Combine OL Measurements 🧵:

— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) March 2, 2025

You don't think he will go too high based on his run blocking? That is a tough one without having an all around game. Why I keep going back to Kandra. Has the football IQ to really QB that line. Great all around blocker as well.

Campbell's 77 3/8 wingspan would also be the shortest wingspan of any offensive tackle at the Combine since at least 2011 https://t.co/siozgBZLSk

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 2, 2025

T-Rex arms

Five players that were requested to stay post-workout to perform snaps at center:

• Tyler Booker, Alabama
• Connor Colby, Iowa
• Hayden Conner, Texas
• Joshua Gray, Oregon State
• Joe Huber, Wisconsin

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 2, 2025

Booker would be one massive C.

pic.twitter.com/3nGJybDL7e https://t.co/sJLRWIYRhh

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) March 2, 2025

Tate Ratledge, another one of my guys, with a 4.97 at 6’6”, 308lbs.

Don’t sleep on the INSANE 1.72 split either. pic.twitter.com/yoPgVLdplL

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 2, 2025

The Flow…magnificent.

Six players from Group 2 that were requested to stay post-workout to perform snaps at center:

• Tate Ratledge, Georgia
• Jalen Rivers, Miami (FL)
• Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech
• Torricelli Simpkins, South Carolina
• Clay Webb, Jacksonville St.
• Grey Zabel, North Dakota St.

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 2, 2025

It's going to be really interesting to see what the Vikings do on the offensive line with Trey Smith now out of play. Does one of these guys like Booker or Membou now come into play in the draft? We have so many needs and positions that need upgrading that a down free agency crop and a lack of draft picks certainly hurts. I think we need to look at highly drafted guys coming off first contracts who still have upside. I've mentioned Jedric Wills as a signing Id like to see. Another player who fits that catagory is Aaron Banks from the 49ers, who is projected to receive a 3 year deal in the neighborhood of 25 million and would be a significant upgrade to Brandel as a run blocker. I'm still hoping Jurgens is the answer at center for us and an upgrade to Bradbury as a bigger player.

Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary

HT: 6047
WT: 311
Hand: 10 1/4
Arm: 34 3/4
Wing: 81 7/8

Those measurements with these movement skills. Look forward to watching him today. https://t.co/moAWAp6aNy

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 2, 2025

Still can’t get over that there are 4 OL since at least 2003 that have been 315+ pounds who have run sub 5.00 in the 40 and jumped 30”+ in the vert

Trent Williams 11x Pro Bowl

Tristan Wirfs 4x Pro Bowl in 5 seasons

And now two draft prospects, Armand Membou and Will Campbell

— Bengal (@BengalYouTube) March 3, 2025

Will Campbell playing Left Tackle in the NFL with less than ideal arm length will be his most challenging role since he played "Badger" in Breaking Bad pic.twitter.com/l6kBcU3Mi5

— Jack Andrade (@RealJackAndrade) March 2, 2025

The #Vikings reportedly spoke to Trey Smith’s representatives at the combine, but once they realized he was staying in Kansas City, they knew they had to shift their attention to other free agent guards, per @alec_lewis. #Colts G Will Fries was mentioned by Lewis, as he fits… pic.twitter.com/l4PwBDnbeO

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) March 3, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/1896578551853256710?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

In terms of value, I like Fries more than Smith. I just don't know why the Colts would let him go, unless they feel they can only keep one of Kelly and Fries. The fact that Fries was hurt most of last year could factor in I guess.

Connor Colby is a OG prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.66 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 55 out of 1583 OG from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/3l1gq7ijyB pic.twitter.com/N0rZs9kKnZ

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 2, 2025

Another guy I find myself fairly consistently mocking.